2 tracks in Northamptonshire run birthday parties events. The single thing that decides whether this works is age and height, and it catches people out constantly.
Towcester, Northamptonshire
Kart Silverstone is an outdoor kart circuit within the Silverstone motor racing complex on the Northamptonshire–Buckinghamshire border. The track can run in five layouts, the longest at 1,377 metres, and is built to FIA-CIK standards.
Whilton Locks, Daventry, Northamptonshire
Whilton Mill near Daventry runs three outdoor circuits on one site, which makes it unusually flexible. The 1200m International Circuit is the headline one, with a 960m National Circuit and a 450m Mill Circuit alongside it. The operator has been running for over 35 years.
Session price divided by minutes on track, calculated the same way everywhere. Group event pricing differs, so treat this as a guide to relative value.
The thing that catches groups out. Below the minimum you either pay for absent drivers or book an open session instead.
Grantham, Lincolnshire
Ancaster Leisure is an outdoor multi-activity site at Wood Lodge near Ancaster, north-east of Grantham, where karting sits alongside paintball, airsoft, archery and laser tag. Its outdoor track can be run as a 1,200m International circuit, a 700m Brooklands layout or a 600m Club circuit, with a separate junior circuit and a small electric track for young children.
Lincoln
Gridline Racing is an indoor kart centre in a former cash-and-carry warehouse on Dunford Road, south of Lincoln city centre. It has been running since 2006 and, being indoors, operates whatever the weather.
Price not published
Skegness, Lincolnshire
Kartworld Extreme Leisure is an outdoor kart circuit at Croft, on the southern edge of Skegness on the Lincolnshire coast. It runs petrol hire karts for the public, with adult drivers using OTK karts fitted with Honda GX270 engines.
Leicester
Stretton Circuit is a 950 metre outdoor track in rolling countryside on the edge of Leicester, built and extended over the years rather than laid out in one go. It weaves around banks, trees and buildings, with high and low speed corners, chicanes and hairpins, grass run-off, raised kerbs and tyre walls either side.
Always check both. The gap between a 1.20m and a 1.40m minimum is the difference between an eight-year-old driving and watching.
Purpose-built junior karts fit smaller drivers properly. Some tracks also fit remote speed limiters so staff can build a nervous child up gradually.
Children mixed in with adults have a worse time. Ask whether junior sessions run separately.
Food, a private room, a podium and a trophy make it a party. Without them it is a driving session with cake in the car.